Certification this past summer by EASA and the Russian authorities of the Powerjet SaM 146 engine no doubt marked an important milestone in Franco-Russian industrial cooperation. But the wisdom of the decision by France’s Snecma to participate in the program will remain a matter of debate for years to come.
When, in 2004-2005, Snecma decided to move forward with a 50-50 partnership with NPO Saturn to power the Sukhoi Superjet 100, it simultaneously declined to take a minority stake in GE’s GEnx. At the time, Snecma’s unions and other industry observers questioned the choice. On one side, the chance to participate in the revival of civil aircraft manufacturing in Russia appealed to those eager to cement ties with a promising upstart. On the other side, a stake in the replacement of the CF6 engine almost surely would guarantee big sales. In 2005, Snecma’s then-CEO Jean-Paul Béchat explained that GE’s commercial terms were too harsh. He also insisted Snecma wanted to use its technology on a full engine core for a civil application–as on the Powerjet SaM 146–as opposed to its role in other civil engines.
More In Cabin Interior and Electronics
